On Wednesday, March 2nd, the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works held a hearing titled: “Implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act by the U.S. Department of Transportation”, with testimony from Secretary of Transportation, Pete Buttgieg. After highlighting the Committee’s products included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), discussion turned to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) formula dollars for states, and the prioritization of projects that address safety and emissions reductions. Republicans have raised concerns about the prioritization, asserting that it prevents states from having the power to select which projects to fund. In his testimony, Secretary Buttigieg emphasized the choices states retain in how formula dollars are spent. The Committee also discussed the need for a continuing resolution in FY 2022 funding in order to jump-start much of the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) implementation of the BIL. Speaking to the issue of implementation, Secretary Buttigieg noted the DOT’s two-year average in clearing major projects. He also praised the establishment of the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation and the plan to use $5 billion to build a national network of electric car chargers.
